Infections : Serious infections have occurred. Avoid starting STELARA during any clinically important active infection. If a serious infection or clinically significant infection develops, discontinue STELARA until the infection resolves. Theoretical Risk for Particular Infections : Serious infections from mycobacteria, salmonella, and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinations have been reported in patients genetically deficient in IL-12/IL-23. Consider diagnostic tests for these infections as dictated by clinical circumstances. Tuberculosis (TB) : Evaluate patients for TB prior to initiating treatment with STELARA. Initiate treatment of latent TB before administering STELARA. Malignancies : STELARA may increase risk of malignancy. The safety of STELARA in patients with a history of or a known malignancy has not been evaluated. Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions : If a severe or other clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue STELARA immediately and initiate appropriate medical treatment. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) : If PRES is suspected, treat promptly, and discontinue STELARA. Immunizations: Avoid use of live vaccines in patients during treatment with STELARA . Noninfectious Pneumonia : Cases of interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia have been reported during post-approval use of STELARA. If diagnosis is confirmed, discontinue STELARA and institute appropriate treatment. 5.1 Infections STELARA may increase the risk of infections and reactivation of latent infections. Serious bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, and viral infections were observed in patients receiving STELARA . Serious infections requiring hospitalization, or otherwise clinically significant infections, reported in clinical trials included the following: Plaque Psoriasis : diverticulitis, cellulitis, pneumonia, appendicitis, cholecystitis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, viral infections, gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections. Psoriatic arthritis : cholecystitis. Crohn's disease : anal abscess, gastroenteritis, ophthalmic herpes zoster, pneumonia, and listeria meningitis. Ulcerative colitis : gastroenteritis, ophthalmic herpes zoster, pneumonia, and listeriosis. Avoid initiating treatment with STELARA in patients with any clinically important active infection until the infection resolves or is adequately treated. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment prior to initiating use of STELARA in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Instruct patients to seek medical advice if signs or symptoms suggestive of an infection occur while on treatment with STELARA and discontinue STELARA for serious or clinically significant infections until the infection resolves or is adequately treated
Theoretical Risk for Vulnerability to Particular Infections Individuals genetically deficient in IL-12/IL-23 are particularly vulnerable to disseminated infections from mycobacteria (including nontuberculous, environmental mycobacteria), salmonella (including nontyphi strains), and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinations. Serious infections and fatal outcomes have been reported in such patients. It is not known whether patients with pharmacologic blockade of IL-12/IL-23 from treatment with STELARA may be susceptible to these types of infections. Consider appropriate diagnostic testing, (e.g., tissue culture, stool culture, as dictated by clinical circumstances)
Pre-treatment Evaluation for Tuberculosis Evaluate patients for tuberculosis infection prior to initiating treatment with STELARA. Avoid administering STELARA to patients with active tuberculosis infection. Initiate treatment of latent tuberculosis prior to administering STELARA. Consider anti-tuberculosis therapy prior to initiation of STELARA in patients with a past history of latent or active tuberculosis in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed. Closely monitor patients receiving STELARA for signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis during and after treatment
Malignancies STELARA is an immunosuppressant and may increase the risk of malignancy. Malignancies were reported among subjects who received STELARA in clinical trials . In rodent models, inhibition of IL-12/IL-23p40 increased the risk of malignancy . The safety of STELARA has not been evaluated in patients who have a history of malignancy or who have a known malignancy. There have been post-marketing reports of the rapid appearance of multiple cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in patients receiving STELARA who had pre-existing risk factors for developing non-melanoma skin cancer. Monitor all patients receiving STELARA for the appearance of non-melanoma skin cancer. Closely follow patients greater than 60 years of age, those with a medical history of prolonged immunosuppressant therapy and those with a history of PUVA treatment
Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported with STELARA in clinical trials and postmarketing. Some serious hypersensitivity reactions have occurred during the first intravenous dose of STELARA . If a severe or clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue STELARA immediately and initiate appropriate medical treatment
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) Two cases of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), also known as Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS), were reported in clinical trials. Cases have also been reported in postmarketing experience in patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Clinical presentation included headaches, seizures, confusion, visual disturbances, and imaging changes consistent with PRES a few days to several months after ustekinumab initiation. A few cases reported latency of a year or longer. Patients recovered with supportive care following withdrawal of ustekinumab. Monitor all patients treated with STELARA for signs and symptoms of PRES. If PRES is suspected, promptly administer appropriate treatment and discontinue STELARA
Immunizations Prior to initiating therapy with STELARA, patients should receive all age-appropriate immunizations as recommended by current immunization guidelines. Patients being treated with STELARA should avoid receiving live vaccines. Avoid administering BCG vaccines during treatment with STELARA or for one year prior to initiating treatment or one year following discontinuation of treatment. Caution is advised when administering live vaccines to household contacts of patients receiving STELARA because of the potential risk for shedding from the household contact and transmission to patient. Non-live vaccinations received during a course of STELARA may not elicit an immune response sufficient to prevent disease
Noninfectious Pneumonia Cases of interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia have been reported during post-approval use of STELARA. Clinical presentations included cough, dyspnea, and interstitial infiltrates following one to three doses. Serious outcomes have included respiratory failure and prolonged hospitalization. Patients improved with discontinuation of therapy and in certain cases administration of corticosteroids. If diagnosis is confirmed, discontinue STELARA and institute appropriate treatment .